As he quickened his pace toward her, that gentle face coming into focus, something in her chest fluttered and tightened all at once.
It hit her then—how much she had missed him.
More than she had ever allowed herself to admit.
And perhaps, without realizing it, she had let him take up far more space in her heart than she’d intended.
The thrill of seeing him, the rush of warmth that swept through her—it was too much to contain.
Overwhelmed, she started to swing her leg over the wall—only for Sinyeong, startled out of his wits, to rush forward.
“Wait!”
“Why?”
Already one leg over the wall, Hwayeong blinked down at him.
Sinyeong hurried to the base of the wall, eyes wide.
“You’re not trying to climb over again, are you?”
“I am.”
Her look—half playful, half expectant—made him groan. He reached up and pushed at her shoulder.
“No, you can’t. Absolutely not.”
“Why not?”
“If my lady mother finds out, it’ll be a disaster. Get down, quickly.”
